Motorola Droid X2 Smartphone Review

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In this smartphone review, we will be showcasing the Motorola Droid X2 mobile device.

The Motorola Droid X2 offers sturdy performance and design, plus a full set of features for Verizon Wireless customers. The smartphone is available for $199.99 after rebates and a two-year contract with Verizon.

The Droid X2 ships running on the Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system. It's not the latest Android platform, but Motorola plans to upgrade to version 2.3 in the future. As such, you get the luxury of several Google services on the phone, like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Maps, YouTube, and more. Android Market access is another Google perk when you want to get into some app action on the smartphone.

The basic features of the Droid X2 include a speakerphone, vibrate mode, voice dialing, alarm clock, calculator, calendar, voice recorder, and to-do list. The phonebook is only limited by the available memory. As it stands, the X2 comes with 8GB of integrated memory, but that can be upgraded to 32GB with a microSD card. You can list multiple numbers per contact, edit data like email and physical addresses, and more. Each contact can be paired with a ringtone and photo and be placed into groups as well for easier organization. Besides having to enter contacts manually, they can be imported from social networking sites for quicker access. The X2 can be customized easily via downloaded ringtones, graphics, and more from the Android Market.

As for the performance when it comes to the X2's core features, it is solid. Call quality is good, and phone calls come with plenty of volume and clarity. If you are one who uses the speakerphone function regularly, the X2 should suffice, as calls using the speakerphone are clear as well and manage to reduce background noise. Battery life is rated at a talk time of eight hours, while standby time should last up to nine days on a full charge. You should be able to get the most out of the smartphone (gaming, internet, music, phone calls, etc.) without having to worry about overly frequent charging.

The Droid X2 has much more to offer beyond the basics. It has Bluetooth support, enabling you to pair the smartphone wirelessly with hands-free car kits, stereo headsets, and other compatible devices. Pairing the phone via Bluetooth is quick and painless. Integrated GPS is onboard to help when you need driving directions or want to find out about local hotspots. The GPS works with Google Maps to provide turn-by-turn directions. Connectivity on the smartphone comes via integrated Wi-Fi or Verizon's 3G network. Once connected, up to five other devices can use the X2 as a hotspot for their internet connections with the Mobile Broadband plan. The lack of 4G will be a negative for some consumers, but the 3G connectivity should still be sufficient for most tasks. PC synching is another advanced feature worth mentioning, as is visual voice mail which lets you check your voice messages in an email format. This is ideal for sifting quickly through messages that are not urgent.

The Droid X2 offers plenty of ways for you to keep in touch with others when it comes to messaging. There's threaded text messaging, which allows you to see a chronological views of your conversations with contacts. Multimedia messaging is available as well for when you want to send pictures or videos to others. Email comes in the form of the aforementioned Gmail, but you can also access accounts through popular services like AOL, Hotmail, and Yahoo. POP3, IMAP, and SMTP are supported, and business email can be accessed through Microsoft Exchange. For quick chats, you can instant message with a variety of widely used clients. Not to be left out of the discussion is the X2's social network integration with sites like Facebook and Twitter. Fans of Skype will be glad to know that Skype Mobile comes pre-loaded on the phone too.